The Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) has been publicly recognized before both the U.S. Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives for garnering a national award for its success in addressing the workforce needs of eastern Kentucky's coal industry.

U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning recognized EKCEP's Coal Services Program for being one of five workforce programs from across the nation to receive 2007 Recognition of Excellence Awards from the U.S. Department of Labor. EKCEP's award represents Kentucky's only win at the 2007 Workforce Innovations Conference held in July in Kansas City, MO.

"I wanted to pass along my congratulations to you on your accomplishment," the Kentucky senator wrote in a Sept. 12 letter to EKCEP Executive Director Mable Duke. "After hearing about what you achieved, I took the liberty of inserting a statement in the Congressional Record in recognition of your efforts."

This recognition was followed on Sept. 21 with an official commendation from the Kentucky House of Representatives, specifically Rep. Rocky Adkins and Speaker Jody Richards. As stated in that commendation, the full House joined Rep. Adkins—who also chairs EKCEP's Workforce Investment Board—in "applauding (EKCEP)" in honor of its national award.

EKCEP's Coal Services Program was the nationwide winner of the Department of Labor's "Leveraging the Power of e3 Partnerships" award, which recognizes the value of projects that demonstrate sustained collaborations among employers, educators, and economic development. (To download and view USDOL's QuickTime video on EKCEP's Coal Services Program, right click this link, and select "Save Target As." To download a free version of QuickTime in order to view the video, click here.)

Bunning highlighted several aspects of EKCEP's Coal Services Program in the Congressional Record as part of a "Tribute to the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program" issued Sept. 5. Based in Hazard, EKCEP administers government employment and training programs and employer services in 23 rural mountain counties, including the entire eastern Kentucky coalfields.

"Mr. President, today I pay tribute to the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Incorporated, EKCEP, for their recent accomplishments at the 2007 Workforce Innovations Conference," Bunning said in his statement. "I now ask my fellow colleagues to join me in congratulating the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program for their achievements and commitment in helping Kentucky's largest industry and our Nation's largest energy source."

Duke expressed gratitude for Bunning and Adkins' public recognition of the success of EKCEP's Coal Services Program. Duke also singled out Bunning for his personal support of EKCEP's proposal that helped secure a $3.1 million federal grant from the Department of Labor for miner training. Bunning and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers each wrote letters of support for the proposal, which called for the creation of the Success Xpress, a custom-built mobile miner training facility inside a 53-foot tractor truck trailer.

"EKCEP is dedicated to helping the state's largest industry address its workforce needs both today and for the future," Duke said. "Senator Bunning's support helped bring key portions of the Coal Services Program to life, and this new public recognition from him and Representative Adkins will help ensure Congress and the Kentucky Legislature remain aware of the positive impact EKCEP's services are having on employers and job seekers in our area."

EKCEP's Coal Services Program employs a variety of services that address the needs of both sides of the workforce equation—employers and job seekers. Those services include critical training for new miners entering the industry and for working miners who need skills upgrades to increase their mines' productivity. These collaborative, hands-on training efforts are provided on site at various eastern Kentucky mining operations, as well as at Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) locations.

The state-of-the-art Success Xpress is a top feature of the Coal Services Program. Designed and implemented by EKCEP, the Success Xpress is outfitted with a high-tech classroom featuring a computerized three-dimensional mining simulator and a hands-on lab area that features electrical training panels exactly like those on actual mining equipment.

For additional information on EKCEP's Coal Services Program, contact Crawford Blakeman at 606-436-5751.